Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (Acting for Screen and Theatre)

Do you consider all the world to be your stage? Establish your acting, voice and movement skills, become familiar with acting techniques for theatre and film, and develop an understanding of the history of drama. Launch your acting career and perform in front of real audiences at Unitec's Theatre and other venues throughout the city.

Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (Acting for Screen and Theatre)

Programme overview

Develop the acting and performance skills you will need to realise your full potential as an actor on screen and on the stage. Increase your awareness of voice, posture, fitness, co-ordination, spatial awareness and use of breath in relation to acting. Work on a variety of film and stage projects, and learn to express the emotional and intellectual states of a character through classical and contemporary acting techniques.

You'll benefit from staff who are experienced industry professionals and committed to developing actor training techniques. They have extensive research portfolios and maintain strong relationships with the industry.

Highlights

Numerous performance opportunities both on film and in front of audiences

A model of the real entertainment industry: working closely with directing and writing, film and television, and performance technology students.

Close links with industry: we're active members of SPADA (Screen Production and Development Association), WIFT (Women in Film and Television), Playmarket, New Zealand Writers Guild, Entertainment Technology NZ and New Zealand Film and Video Technicians' Guild.

Strong ties with South Pacific Pictures, the Auckland Theatre Company, and Silo Theatre, where students have gained practical experience before graduating

Strong international connections

Student exchange program available through UniJet

Acting students collaborate with screen students to participate in significant teaching and performance projects across both theatre and screen

Connected to Auckland’s vibrant and rapidly expanding theatre and film sector

Small, dedicated core teaching team with guest lecturers who are currently working in the field

The unique nature of each student is celebrated through an intensive training programme built on bravery, risk, humour, respect, teamwork and innovation. You'll be nurtured and challenged to reach your potential through four interdependent core units: Acting Techniques, Voice, Movement, Theatre and Screen Studies (plus critical practices). Our commitment to support you on your journey is shown through the community created and nurtured. Visit our Facebook page for current projects, news and events.

Auditions

Around 150 people apply each year for the 24 places offered in Year One. First round auditions are held throughout New Zealand in early October. You'll be given clear information at the time of your application about what to learn and how to prepare. From these first-round auditions a group of applicants is selected for second round auditions. These are held in Auckland over a weekend in early November. From this two-day workshop the final selection of trainee actors is made for the following year.

We are no longer taking applications for semester 1, 2019 intake. Applications for semester 1, 2020 intake is now open.

2. 8 credits at NCEA Level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Maori (4 in reading, 4 in writing)
3. 14 credits in NCEA Level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau
4. Interviews, submissions and/or auditions will be required – we'll notify you of what is required
5. Complete a medical declaration form
6. If English is your second language, you will need one or more of the following:

Have achieved NCEA Level 3 and New Zealand University entrance

Be able to provide evidence you satisfy our criteria for existing English proficiency

Have achieved at least one English proficiency outcome in the last two years

Don’t have NCEA? We also accept:

A relevant qualification at Level 3 on the NZQF or above or an equivalent qualification; or

Provide sufficient evidence to be eligible for special or discretionary admission.

To enable students to work collaboratively with those involved in the creative process of screen and theatre. The course focuses on collaboration and establishing the disciplines and methodologies for actor training in a hands on environment.

To enable students to employ fundamental acting theories, concepts and techniques in practicebased settings The course focuses on developing professional self-management approaches for through experiential exploration of the creative process practice as well as developing the student?s
ability to identify personal areas of their own creative development.

To enable students to gain an understanding of fundamental theories, concepts and techniques of acting for theatre and screen. The course focuses on building capability for the actors instrument in voice and movement.

To enable students to acquire a wide range of basic skills, knowledge and practices for acting and to identify personal areas of creative development. The focus of this course is to enable students to continue to develop their capability in voice and movement.

To enable students to develop a broad understanding of the major concepts of storytelling in terms of mythic constructs, rituals and symbols in an interactive multi-disciplinary learning environment. This course provides a foundation for the development of specialist Performing and Screen Arts literacies such as reading media texts and interpreting creative ideas among students from all disciplines of the programme. There is also a focus on the whakapapa of storytelling in Aotearoa placed within a noho marae learning environment.

To introduce students to the basic professional practices associated with the performing and screen arts industries and their own professional development. This course focuses on building capability for students in self-management, communication and presentation, as well as academic literacies such as text analysis and academic writing.

To enable students to examine and reflect upon the historical development of theatre languages and theories in an interactive multi-disciplinary learning environment. This course focuses on placing selected movements and developments of production and performance in the context of the student?s specialist discipline. There is a focus on experiencing professional art making in the community through field trips and site visits.

To enable students to apply a variety of theoretical, individual and collaborative techniques, in a range of production contexts. The course focuses on the creative relationships that develop in the making of work and the collaborative role of the actor within the process of making performance.

To enable students to locate contemporary theatre theory and practice in an historical, social and political context and creatively employ appropriate technique. The course focuses on exploring acting theories as both a process and an outcome, as well as professional and creative techniques and approaches for performance.

To enable students to increase understanding of specialised acting theories, concepts and techniques. The course focuses on the further development of specialist skills and the evolution of a personal methodology that will give expression to individual creative development and practice.

To enable students to extend specific acting skills, knowledge and practices needed to achieve standards that enhance creative decisions. The course focuses on the further development of specialist skills and the application of individual creative development and practice.

To enable students to examine the ways in which the creator/performer communicates with their audience in an interactive multi-disciplinary learning environment which includes an artist hui at Te Noho Kotahitanga marae. This course focuses on understanding through the analysis of the modes of address and conventions of representation and interpretation commonly associated with performing and screen arts culture.

To enable students to examine local and global perspectives and issues influencing the continuing evolution of contemporary theatre and performance and develop the ability to apply critical judgement to creative decisions. This course employs a noho marae to allow students to evaluate and develop responses to cultural/political perspectives as an emergent creative arts practitioner.

To enable students to employ acting theory and technique in specialised creative situations while consolidating the ability to participate in complex work. This course focuses on enabling students to consolidate range of advanced specialist theories, concepts and techniques in a variety of practical settings to demonstrate how these concepts contribute to their personal voice as a creative artist/practitioner.

To enable students to establish a critical understanding of advanced acting skills, knowledge and practices while developing the ability to critically evaluate their own work and that of others. This course focusses on the intergration of techniques into all acting work.

To enable students to transition into the industry by acquiring advanced professional development skills. This course focuses on setting personal and professional goals for academic and professional achievement as well as the business and management practices associated with the performing and screen arts profession.

The aim of this course is to investigate creative and communicative possibilities offered by motion graphics in a time-based media context. Students will investigate and analyse contemporary practices and trends in time-based media in order to create, plan and produce a well-developed narrative sequence using digital workflows.

Title

Disclaimer

The 'Key Information for Students' below does not reflect any international student information.

Please take this information as a guideline only. For example, you will often see a difference between these tuition fees and our estimate above. This is because there are a number of variables, such as the specific courses chosen within a programme.

The national graduate outcomes information is for all tertiary New Zealand providers including Unitec. This information is provided by the New Zealand Government and is derived from a national database that links educational and income information.

Key Information for Students

Entry requirements

Minimum requirements:
Applicants may be admitted to the programme under general, special or discretionary admission. Applicants must also meet English language requirements. Interviews, submissions and/or auditions will be required for all applicants.

The Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, has announced the Government’s Roadmap 2020 proposal which would bring together New Zealand’s 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) to form a single...